Translational Neuropsychiatry Research Group

Research & findings

Traumatic experiences, especially in childhood, are associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes in adulthood. Growing evidence suggests that behavioral and metabolic disturbances linked to childhood trauma may be transmitted across generations.

However, the precise mechanisms by which childhood trauma affects germ cells and enables intergenerational transmission of symptoms remain unclear.

This research combines parallel analyses in a mouse model exposed to early-life trauma with studies of human cohorts from Bosnia, Pakistan, and Poland. Current findings indicate a key role for metabolic factors and non-coding RNAs in transferring the effects of childhood trauma to germ cells, thereby enabling their transmission across generations.

Inside the lab

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), are major causes of morbidity and mortality in older adults worldwide. They are characterized by the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates in the brain, such as amyloid and tau in AD and TDP-43 in ALS and FTLD.

Using a multimodal research approach, the TREND team has identified important links between cellular energy metabolism, TDP-43, and microglia—the brain’s immune cells responsible for clearing toxic protein deposits. Current findings suggest that targeted modulation of metabolic pathways can reduce TDP-43-related toxicity.

Additionally, metabolic interventions can enhance microglial clearance of amyloid deposits, offering potential therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.